Symptom Amelioration in Crohn's Perianal Fistulas Using Video-Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment (VAAFT)

• Published in: Journal of Crohn's and colitis Vol. 12; no. 9; pp. 1067 - 1072
• Main Authors: Adegbola, Samuel O, Sahnan, Kapil, Tozer, Philip J, Strouhal, Raimund, Hart, Ailsa L, Lung, Phillip F C, Phillips, Robin K S, Faiz, Omar, Warusavitarne, Janindra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 29.08.2018
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Crohn Disease - complications; Feasibility Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Quality of Life; Rectal Fistula - etiology; Rectal Fistula - surgery; Treatment Outcome; Video-Assisted Surgery - adverse effects; Young Adult; patient-reported outcomes; fistula; VAAFT
• ISSN: 1873-9946; 1876-4479
• DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjy071

A third of patients with Crohn's disease develop perianal fistulas. These are associated with a significant burden of symptoms and negative impact on quality of life. This study reports the use of video-assisted anal fistula treatment [VAAFT] as a means of symptom improvement; this is a minimally invasive technique to access fistula track, and diagnose/facilitate drainage of deep/complex secondary extensions with cauterization of excess inflammatory tissue. Consecutive patients with complex Crohn's fistula undergoing VAAFT for symptomatic Crohn's anal fistula were included. They were identified from a prospectively maintained database, which was interrogated from June 2015 to November 2017. Patients underwent diagnostic fistuloscopy and fulguration of tracts/secondary extensions. Setons were sited/replaced after the procedure to maintain postoperative drainage. The primary endpoint was completion of the 'Measure your medical outcome profile' [MYMOP2] quality of life [QoL] questionnaire at 6 weeks postoperatively. Secondary outcome measures were a decisional regret scale [DRS], postoperative complications and the 30-day re-operation rate. Twenty-five patients underwent the procedure during the study period. In total, 21/25 patients [84%] provided MYMOP2 QoL data demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in both pain and discharge scores. Eighty-one per cent of patients who completed the questionnaire agreed/strongly agreed that the procedure was the right decision and no patient regretted undergoing the procedure. There was one re-operation but otherwise no complications. This study demonstrates the feasibility, safety and importantly an improvement in patient-reported outcomes in a series of patients undergoing VAAFT for complex Crohn's anal fistula. VAAFT reduces the main symptoms [pain and discharge] in patients with complex refractory anal fistulas.